Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that new U.S. sanctions were "backfiring", making Washington more isolated, not the Islamic Republic.
"Today, US defied UN top court and Security Council by reimposing sanctions on Iran that target ordinary people. But US bullying is backfiring... The US — and not Iran — is isolated." Zarif said in a tweet.
Germany is convinced that it should enable legal business relations with Iran and is checking how to protect companies affected by sanctions reimposed on Iran by Washington, a government spokesman said on Monday."We are assessing how we will be able to protect the basis of our business engagements there," government spokesman Steffen Seibert said.Israel thanks Trump for Iran sanctionsSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugsIran says it will defy 'economic war' as US reimposes sanctions
Germany says legal business relations with Iran should be possible
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed on Monday what he called U.S. President Donald Trump's courageous decision in reimposing U.S. sanctions on Iran."This day is an historic day," Netanyahu said in public remarks to legislators from his right-wing Likud party."I would like to again thank U.S. President Donald Trump for the courageous, determined and important decision. I think this contributes to stability and security and peace."On Monday, the U.S. administration reinstated all sanctions removed on Iran following a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. The sanctions target Iran’s oil exports, shipping and banks - all core parts of the Iranian economy.Egyptian delegation leaves Gaza after truce talksIsraeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also thanked U.S. President Donald Trump for imposing sanctions on Iran."President (Donald) Trump's bold decision is the sea-change the Middle East has been waiting for," Lieberman said in a statement on Monday."In a single move, the United States is dealing a critical blow to Iran's entrenchment in Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, Iraq and Yemen. President Trump, you've done it again! Thank you," he said.Iran's Zarif says sanctions 'backfiring,' isolating USThe U.S. is seeking to "alter" Iranian behavior with the sanctions, and has been leaking out a stream of 12 demands it wants to see Iran agree to in exchange for re-lifting the economic penalties.The U.S. expects to have reduced Iranian oil exports by more than 1 million barrels even before Monday's tranche of economic penalties, which the U.S. has long warned were incoming.All of the other signatories -- China, the European Union, France, Germany, Iran, Russia and the United Kingdom -- have remained in the nuclear deal despite the U.S. withdrawal.The accord provided Iran with billions of dollars in relief from international sanctions in exchange for sweeping curbs on and inspections of its nuclear program.Britain regrets imposition of US sanctions on Iran: PM May's spokesmanGermany says legal business relations with Iran should be possibleSwiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs
Netanyahu says Trump made courageous decision on US sanctions on Iran
Switzerland is holding talks with the United States and Iran about launching a humanitarian payment channel to help ensure food and drugs keep flowing to the Islamic Republic amid tightened U.S. sanctions, the government said.Restored U.S. sanctions are part of a wider effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programmes as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.Iran has taken a defiant line. It will sell its oil and break U.S. sanctions on its vital energy and banking sectors, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said."Switzerland is committed to safeguarding Swiss economic interests and closely follows the development of the situation. The authorities are in direct contact with the competent authorities of the United States, the EU and Iran," the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) said in an emailed statement on Monday.Iran in contact with other signatories of nuclear deal as US reinforces sanctions"Particularly in the humanitarian field, the federal government is committed to ensuring that food and pharmaceutical products can continue to be supplied from Switzerland," it said, adding it was in touch with U.S. authorities, Iran and unnamed Swiss companies on developing a humanitarian payment channel. A SECO spokesman would not elaborate on the plan.Switzerland, which represents U.S. diplomatic interests in Iran, was not involved in separate European Union discussions on setting up a special purpose vehicle to continue trade with Iran, but was following the talks closely, SECO said.The Swiss were also not involved in developing alternative mechanisms to SWIFT in the area of secure messaging and payment transactions.Switzerland in August encouraged Swiss companies to pursue business ties with Iran prudently and expressed regret at the poor sanctions situation.China says its lawful trade with Iran should be respectedSwiss-based Nestle, the world's biggest food company which produces infant formula and cereals as well as bottled water in Iran, said in August it saw no direct fallout from renewed U.S. sanctions on the country.But Swiss lender Banque de Commerce et de Placements (BCP) in May suspended new transactions with Iran and started winding down Iran-related business. Founded in 1963, BCP had been among the players active in Iran-related trade finance in commodities, finance sources say.Overall Swiss exports to Iran rose 7.6 percent in 2017 to 536 million Swiss francs ($534 million) while imports rose 300 percent to 85 million francs. In the first nine months of this year, exports fell to 311.2 million while imports hit 17.2 million, provisional trade data show.US ratchets up pressure on Iran with resumption of sanctions
Swiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugs
Iran said it would defy the reimposition of more U.S. sanctions on Monday, condemning as "economic war" Washington's attempt to curb Tehran's missile and nuclear programs and weaken its influence in the Middle East.The U.S. move restores sanctions lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by the administration of President Barack Obama and five other world powers. It adds 300 new designations in Iran's oil, shipping, insurance and banking sectors.The European Union, which continues to back the nuclear deal, said it opposed the reimposition of sanctions and big oil buyer China said it regretted the move.The restoration of sanctions is part of a wider effort by U.S. President Donald Trump to force Iran to curb its nuclear and missile programs as well as its support for proxy forces in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and other parts of the Middle East.Swiss talk with US, Iran about humanitarian payment channel for food, drugsU.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday the penalties set to return on Monday "are the toughest sanctions ever put in place on the Islamic Republic of Iran."However, Iran's clerical rulers have dismissed concerns about the impact of sanctions on the economy."Today the enemy (the United States) is targeting our economy...the main target of sanctions is our people," Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said."America wanted to cut to zero Iran's oil sales...but we will continue to sell our oil...to break sanctions," Rouhani told economists at a meeting broadcast live on state television.EU opposed to US resumption of sanctions on Iran: MoscoviciThe sanctions were illegal and unfair, he said."This is an economic war against Iran but ... America should learn that it cannot use the language of force against Iran ... We are prepared to resist any pressure," Rouhani said.Trump announced in May his government was withdrawing from what he called the "worst ever" agreement negotiated by the United States. Other parties to the deal, including Britain, France, Germany, China and Russia, say they will not leave.The deal had seen most international financial and economic sanctions on Iran lifted in return for Tehran curbing its disputed nuclear activity under U.N. surveillance.China says its lawful trade with Iran should be respectedDetails of the sanctions will be released at a news conference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. EST (1330 GMT) with Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.The European Union is opposed to the U.S. decision to reimpose oil and financial sanctions, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said. "The European Union does not approve of it," Moscovici told franceinfo radio.China, India, South Korea, Japan and Turkey - all top importers of Iranian oil - are among eight countries expected to be given temporary exemptions from the sanctions to ensure crude oil prices are not destabilised.The countries will deposit Iran's revenue in an escrow account, U.S. officials have said.US ratchets up pressure on Iran with resumption of sanctionsThe curbs come as the United States is focused on U.S. congressional and gubernatorial elections on Tuesday. Campaigning in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Sunday, Trump said his "maximum pressure" against Iran was working."Iran is a much different country than it was when I took office," said Trump, adding: "They wanted to take over the whole Middle East. Right now they just want to survive."To keep the deal alive, the remaining parties to the Iran accord are trying to maintain trade with Tehran, despite scepticism that this is possible.Diplomats told Reuters last month that a new EU mechanism to facilitate payments for Iranian oil exports should be legally in place by Nov. 4 but not operational until early next year.Rouhani says Iran to sell oil, break US sanctionsThey cautioned, however, that no country had volunteered to host the entity, which was delaying the process."We are in regular contact with other signatories of the nuclear deal...setting up (a) mechanism to continue trade with the European Union will take time," Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in Tehran.US resumes all pre-nuclear deal sanctions on Iran
Iran’s Rouhani vows to bypass US sanctions